Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

Do you think the people have always been this stressed?

I'm often asked if we have more or less stress than we did a hundred or two hundred years ago. Our lives are stressful today, but they were way back then as well.

One of the things that helped people to cope was a sense of support. Back then we lived in smaller communities, had families around us, and we knew our neighbors.

Today we live in large communities, our families may live hours or continents away, and we have no idea who lives around us.

Our support circles have grown smaller and smaller.

Let's talk month embraces sharing your stories and asking for help as ways of gaining and giving support.

It is one of the three main strategies in positive stress management.

So Here Are My Hot Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating Let's Talk Month:

Learn to share your thoughts and feelings, your successes, and your challenges.

Learn to listen to other’s thoughts and feelings, successes, and challenges.

Looking for more tips to build your resiliency?

Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out! 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In.

Today is National Depression Screening Day.

There are many who are suffering in silence who are feeling that there is nowhere to turn. The guilt and the shame of not being able to effectively cope with day to day stressors leaves many feeling isolated helpless and hopeless.

Thankfully there is an anonymous online screening tool if you think that you or a family member may be experiencing depression.

Go online to mentalhealthscreening.org and follow the links.

Today's Hot Tips For Building Resiliency On National Depression Screening Day:

Don't let fear, shame, or guilt prevent you from getting the help that you deserve.

Talk to your doctor if you're concerned. Use the online screening tool to help explain what you're feeling.

Keep an open mind. Treatment for depression may take a long time and the best treatment options may take time to find and have full impact.

Get educated. Know about the signs and symptoms.

Don't forget that you can find more tips for coping with mental health issues by checking out my Live Smart Blog at WorkSmartLiveSmart.Com

True friends are precious, but often we take them for granted.

The saying goes that you can't have too many friends. I disagree. Trying to balance too many friendships, plus a lack of time, equals more stress.

Friendships can protect your health, so it's important to take the time and make the effort to hold on to the friendships that mean the most to us.

We need to let them know how much they matter to us.

So Here Are My Hot Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating You Matter To Me Day:

First take stock of friends that you currently have. Do you have too few? Just enough? Or too many to currently maintain?

Let your friends know how much they mean to you. Plan to get together. Pick up the phone. Invest some time and effort into those friendships that you want to hang on to.

Over the years, I've had many friendships that have endured the test of time. It takes a great deal of effort for us to get together, but when we do, the energy that I gain from those connections is invaluable.

Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called, Stress Out! 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In.

It saddens me when we still hear stories of how employees feel hopeless and helpless to change negative situations, and the stress of it all ends up having a good employee leave. We know that engaged employees help our companies to be more creative, productive, and successful, yet some employers still look at employees as being a commodity that you push them to their limits, burn them out, and discard them for the next person standing in line.

It is easier to get new employees than to fix the things that are wrong within the system.

Here are my Hot Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating Healthy Workplace Month:

Start a conversation.

If you are a leader, what are the sources of stress within your team, professionally personally? If you're not sure, ask. What impact is it having? What are the symptoms that you see in your employees and in the company?

Get support.

Bring together all involved to talk about strategies.

And finally, get involved in all of the programs that your company has to offer.

You never know what you will learn, or how it could positively impact your life or those around you.

Looking for more resources to build your healthy workplace? Check out my top ten tips under resources and courses at worksmartlivesmart.com

Is financial stress one of your concerns?

According to one report, the number of calls related to financial counseling are rising at twice the rate of other EAP services.

The top financial issues people were stressed out about were cost of living, credit card debt, mortgage payments, retirement, children's tuition, health care costs, divorce and bankruptcy.

During these uncertain economic times it's essential that we find positive ways to take care of ourself.

So my hot tip for building your resiliency and celebrating Financial Planning Month:

Learn as much as you can about what is happening.

Talk to those who know your investments and your financial situation.

Find out what you do and do not have control over.

Keep the situation in perspective.

Try not to get caught up in awfulizing.

And finally make sure that you're taking care of yourself.

Reach out if you find that you are not coping as well as you could be.

Want to find more strategies about coping with stress check out my website at WorkSmartLiveSmart.com

We are working in a corporate world where our teams are faced with a variety of stressors and a world where many of our teams are finding that their coping strategies are inadequate or ineffective at addressing the numerous stressors that they are facing.

According to research, one in five will experience a diagnosable mental illness.

Mental illness can affect everybody. Stigma and guilt play a role in preventing people from seeking help.

Only one in every three with a mental health issue will seek help, leaving millions trying to cope all on their own. Though some may be seeking medical help, fear of being criticized, or judged by those around them, may prevent them from reaching out to others for support.

Today's Hot Tip For Building Resiliency On World Mental Health Day:

Care. Communicate. Connect.

Educate yourself. Educate others and examine policies and attitudes that prevent those experiencing a mental illness from getting the help that they need.

For more tips on how to promote mental illness awareness, check out my website at WorkSmartLiveSmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

Today we fight the perils of FDS: Fun Deficiency Syndrome.  

How very appropriate that today is also National Frugal Fun Day.

It's the day to look for cheap, but fun things to do.

A lack of money shouldn't mean a lack of fun. There are lots of when things to do that don't require any money at all.

Play dressed up or make believe with your kids. Go and ride your bike. Take a walk at the beach or along a nature trail, and see what the season has to offer. Play catch or frisbee with your dog.

Don't forget to build some fun into the workplace as well. When we are having fun, we counterbalance the stress that we may be facing.

So Here Are My Hot Tips For Celebrating National Frugal Fun Day:

We can lose this sense of fun as we age so nourish it regularly.

So my challenge. Do something fun today. Anything. But don't let the day pass, without having some fun.

And don't forget that you can find more tips and strategies by following my Work Smart Live Smart Facebook page.

Smiling is a blissful way to live longer

Harvey ball a commercial artist from Massachusetts created the smiley face in 1963.

That image went on to become the most recognizable symbol of goodwill and good cheer on the planet.

Smiling is contagious. It changes our mood. It fights stress and builds your resiliency.

Smiling boosts your immune system. It lowers your blood pressure and blocks pain.

Smiling makes your face look younger.

 

So Here Are My Hot Tips For Building Resiliency On World Smile Day:

Use it.

Even if you don't feel like smiling, fake it until you make it. There is a theory entitled the facial feedback hypothesis. Research has shown that the muscles in our face that allow us to smile, actually stimulate our brain. And when this part of the brain is stimulated, it makes us feel happy.

Share it.

There are friendly smiles and romantic smiles. There are many different smiles and different ways the act of smiling can be done. Smiles can communicate feelings, show kindness, or help take someone's mind off their problems.

So for today, smile.

It's free and it's easy to do, and it is good for you!

I am a perfectionist.

Are you?

Do you know someone who is?

 

Perfectionists are extremely hard workers and they generally accomplish more than the average person. However perfectionists are extremely hard on themselves and on those around them.

 

Perfectionism is destructive behavior and it's addictive. Physical exhaustion and burnout are common.

 

So here are my hot tips for Building Your Resiliency on Less Than Perfect Day:

 

A quote that I like goes like this: "Less than perfect is a perfect start."

This is something that I need to keep in mind. Give yourself permission not to be perfect all of the time.

 

Number two: Practice self compassion. Challenge those thoughts of criticism and unrealistic expectations.

 

Looking for ways to build your resiliency?

Take my free online vulnerability test at WorkSmartLiveSmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

If running the kids around was actually exercise I would have been in such amazingly good shape! Unfortunately, as women, caregiving can get in the way of taking care of ourselves.  Often, we spend our time looking after the needs of others and sacrifice our own health along the way.  “Someday I will get to it”, is a motto that many of us have lived by.

Guilt is not helpful either.  Feeling guilty because things are not the way we would want them to be, is very detrimental to our health.

Part of balance is having areas of your life that bring you motivation, energy and satisfaction.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency During National Women’s Health and Fitness Day:

Stop thinking ‘someday’ and find something today.  Start small if you must.  Get outside for a few minutes and play with the dog.  Try some stretching exercises while sitting at your desk.  Reach for a glass of water rather than another cup of coffee. 

Ask for help in order to free up some time.  We don’t need to do it all ourselves. 

Remember that having great days, and having great health and fitness, encompass a variety of things from relaxation and pampering, to eating right and sleeping right, to activities that get your heart beating and your muscles working.

It’s our responsibility to make sure we are doing things that promote health because if we wait until someday, it may be too late.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency, take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

Coffee has never been more popular, with an estimated 3 billion cups consumed every day.

Caffeine can promote alertness, and it may decrease the occurrence of depression.

However, sleep can be negatively affected by caffeine. It can create a never-ending cycle of reduced sleep, fatigue, and a need for increased caffeine consumption.

Our sensitivity to caffeine and the impact on our sleep seems to be dependent on age, the amount of caffeine ingested at bedtime, and also on the amount of caffeine ingested over the whole day.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International Coffee Day:

Caffeine consumed close to sleep time has the greatest potential for sleep disruption, so be aware of how much caffeine you are consuming in a day and when.

When stress is at its highest, it is advisable to cut back on caffeine. Caffeine abstinence for a whole day can improve sleep quality quickly, which is vital for being able to cope and ward off the negative impact of the stressful situation.

Finally, while drinking caffeinated coffee in moderation can help to maintain adequate fluids, which can reduce fatigue, water is still considered to be more beneficial in rehydration and maintaining cognitive functioning.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

Good neighbours help each other.

You can't pick your neighbors but if you are lucky, you have good neighbours.

I live in the country and I don’t really have close neighbours, but I do wave to them, as we drive by. And when my boys were little, it was the neighbourhood teenagers that I counted on for babysitting.

Neighbours who look out for one another are the key to a strong community. It was this connectedness that acted as a buffer to those who left everything that they a couple of hundred years ago, and started the settlements here in North America. Times were tough, but the sense of belonging, support, and care helped them to flourish.

Sadly, this sense of connectedness to our neighbours is lacking in many communities. Neighbours don’t often know each other. And many people feel isolated and disengaged.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Good Neighbour Day.

Everyone will have their own definition of what it means to be a good neighbour.

For me, a good neighbour is friendly and considerate.

They respect your space and privacy.

Good neighbours take time to talk, smile, or give a wave hello.

They keep an eye out, when they know you are away.

The neighbourhood we live in can affect our happiness and stress levels in multiple ways. When you're thinking of strategies to manage your stress, consider investing in your relationships with your neighbours.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more tips to build your resiliency’ Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In

If corn oil is made from corn and vegetable oil is made from vegetables. What is baby oil made from?

Why is an electrical outlet called an outlet when you plug things into it?

Why does it hurt like hell to hit your funny bone?

Why is it called a “drive through” if you have to stop?

And finally, If the professor on Giligan’s Island can make a radio out of coconut, why can’t he fix a hole in a boat?

Today is Ask A Stupid Question Day and Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and having more fun!

If laughter is the best medicine, reading the numerous lists of questions people have asked at the doctor’s office, the supermarket, or on the internet can certainly take the stress out of the everyday.

Stupid questions can be funny conversation starters or interesting brain teasers when you are hanging out with friends.

As for stupid conversation starters, try these ones out:

Is a hotdog a sandwich?

How many chickens would it take to kill an elephant?

Or what would be the worst “buy one get one free” sale of all time?

And finally you can annoy your friends even further with these tricky stupid questions:
What is always coming, but never arrives?

Or If a plane crashes on the border between the United States and Canada, where do they bury the survivors?

If you had fun with today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency, take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

You may be like me and feeling that the challenges and changes that we are currently facing are taking their toll on your energy and your mental health. We have buckled down, and hunkered down.

We will never feel at ease or in control if our task list is so long that it doesn’t allow for a little downtime.

A lack of self-care causes more stress. Self-care during challenging times is critical. Without it, we can not be resilient. We need to give ourselves permission to do less and to focus on our needs.

To take care of ourself is restorative. People who focus on self-care are happier and have more stamina to get more accomplished.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Self-Care Awareness Month:

This pandemic is taking a toll on our work, our economy, our social lives, and also on our mental health.

These are challenging times and now is the time to be kind to yourself. Now is the time to focus on what you can do, not what you can’t do.

Look for ways to engage in self-care that works for you. If you hate yoga, don’t force yourself to workout in an on-line yoga class. You don’t need the extra pressure, guilt, and challenge.

Self-care is about focusing on your priorities and including yourself in those priorities.

When you find yourself reacting negatively, remember the acronym STOP.

Stop

Take a couple of Deep Breaths

Observe what is happening

Proceed by recognizing your fears, frustrations, guilt, sadness, hunger, tiredness etc and take an appropriate action by making amends, satisfying the need, diverting, re-energizing, refocusing, or relaxing.

Test out a variety of calming techniques. There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to relaxation, meditation, or mindfulness.

Taking a mini-break will remind you that you’re worth it. Make a list of 10 self-care activities that resonate with you. Try to take at least one mini-break a day where you incorporate a self-care activity from your list.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

For more tips check out my book on Amazon called Stressed Out: 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In.

Who doesn't love receiving a special note of affection from someone they cherish? Well, my boys don't or at least that's what they told me.

Apparently, my love notes added to their lunchbox when I was out of town was embarrassing. Opening your lunch bag and having one of these notes fall in front of your friends was horrific.

How could their mother do this to them?

It was so horrible though, that one day I found several of these notes tucked away in my son's room. When questioned, he admitted that he really did like them, but he would prefer to find them under his pillow instead. I can live with that.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Love Note Day.

Express yourself. Let the person know how much you love them, miss them, are grateful for them, and appreciate them.

Hide your love notes someplace special. Stick it to the water bottle, inside their fridge, or attach it to the backside of the remote control.

My challenge for you today is to do one thing to show someone that you care.

Our stress can be negatively impacted by the way in which we organize our daily activities and routines, and by the organization or lack there of in our physical environment.  De-junking our physical space can increase our efficiency, our effectiveness and can add to a sense of control which can help us create a calm and peaceful presence.

I love purging my files and this summer saw me get rid of more than one full cabinet of paper!

Now is a very good time to do some fall cleaning. It is time to purge some stuff that is getting in the way of doing business efficiently, or that may be adding to the clutter, and stopping us from being as creative and productive as we can be. 

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Love Your Files Week.

While most of us are fairly paperless, it is a good time to look through past paper files and purge. Do you need to keep a hard copy, from a project that is no longer active? Make sure you have an ecopy then off to the recycle box or shredder it goes.

Look at the files on your computer. Have you cleaned out your downloads file? Refile those that you actually need and delete those that are no longer relevant.

This is especially important for picture files. Most can be uploaded again if needed.

Have you backed up your files?  A little extra time ensuring that your back ups are done, can save you heartache and wasted energy if something goes amiss.

Today is as good a time as any.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

Your image is the way you appear to others Some say that it shouldn’t matter how others perceive you. But life Is all about relationships. And for most of us, everything that we do involves other people.

Building a better image is about making improvements in order to change the way we appear to others. It is about ensuring that when people think about us that they have a positive perception about who we are and the benefits of connecting with us.

Our image encompasses your personality, values, culture, and beliefs.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Build A Better Image Week.

Take stock. Before changing your personal image take a step back and consider what you want others to perceive. What are your strong qualities? What do you want to showcase? What first impression do you want to convey?

Next evaluate. What do others think about now when they do think of you and is that different from the image that you want to present? Get feedback from those that you trust to provide honest information.

Beware. Caring too much about how others perceive us, is not good for our mental health. However, aligning how we want people to perceive us with how they actually do, can help to eliminate some of the stress that we may be encountering in our day-to-day relationships.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

Have you ever found yourself exhausted or caught a cold after flying for a business trip or a vacation?

Whether it's for business or for pleasure, stress from travelling can cause a person to experience many physically and mental symptoms.

The stress of being on the move can become overwhelming.

Today is International Road Warrior Day and Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International Road Warrior Day

Number one: Be healthy.

Road warriors can burn themselves out, so know how to relax and take care of yourself regardless of the environment.

If you're a road who flies learn the tricks and tips around avoiding jet lag.

Number two: Stay connected to your family and friends. Leave them notes. Make use of social media and plan for social times when you are not on the road.

And finally keep things simple and uncluttered.

For more tips my book on amazon called Stressed Out: 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In

Sirens, television, computers, printers, car stereos, endless talking — Most of us accept this daily racket as normal.

It is not until we step away, into a peaceful setting, such as when we are walking in a park or camping at the lake, that we notice how loud our life can get.

And it is odd what we can get use to as normal. During the heat and humidity of this summer, I had the fans on high and it didn’t keep me up at night. A few weeks later, when it cooled off at night and there was no need for the fans, I was kept up by a cricket outside my window.

Constant or uncontrollable noise can stress our bodies by raising our blood pressure and heart rate and by releasing stress hormones.

Part of Pause The World Day on September 21st is to relax and to enjoy the silence. Most of us rarely experience true silence, but silence can help us to get in touch with our emotions, provide us with a sense of calm and leave us feeling rejuvenated.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Pause The World Day:

• Listen for the sounds of nature – the birds singing, the bees buzzing and the trees whispering
• Turn down the volume
• Seek out silence
• Sit with only your thoughts to focus on and tune in to the quiet within

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

But you look so good!

96% of illnesses are invisible. These people do not use a cane or any assistive device and may look perfectly healthy.

60% are between the ages of 18 and 64.

It's hard to know what to do when a person has an illness. It’s even harder when it's virtually invisible.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Invisible Chronic Illness Week

Don't be afraid to talk about what they're experiencing. Open the lines of communication and follow the other person's lead. If they want to go into details, they will. If they would rather talk about other things, they will let you know.

If you're living with an invisible chronic illness it's important to keep connected. Reach out for support. It's only by opening up about your illness that you can educate people and invite them to be there for you.

You may be surprised, but they may be dealing with their own invisible chronic illness and could really use your support, or they may become one of your biggest advocates or confidents. You won't know until you give them a chance.

Looking for more information on making your mental health matter? Check out my online courses at worksmartlivesmart.com